The Shawshank Redemption: plot, karakterer og tema

The plot is about Red telling a story about his friend Andy and their experience in jail.

Through the film, we hear the story about Andy told by the main character Red. Throughout their friendship in jail, Andy becomes both an inspirational, and an important person for Red. There for Andy is an important minor character in the film. Other minor characters are the fellow inmates of Andy and Red. We also have the chef of Shawshank prison, and Andy’s student Tommy Williams that are important for the films outcome.

Andy is falsely accused of the murder of his wife and her secret lover. He is there for sentenced two-life imprisonment, at Shawshank prison. Andy lost about 20 years of his life in prison, but he manages to dig out from jail and escape. For Andy, escaping prison was his way of redemption. In prison, Andy also manages to redeem others with his accomplishments. He also encourages Red to consider the idea of hope again. This is why I think that the theme of Shawshank redemption is redemption.

The way the story proceeds is quiet uncommon in films. We follow through Andy’s life, but it is Red telling the story about his experience in jail and his friend Andy. The way they show the film gives the impression that Andy is the main character, while in reality Red is the real main character.